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Growing up in an indigenous Mexican household and low-income community, college was not a familiar word for Anahy Felipe De La Cruz ‘26. Her older sister didn’t go to college, nor did many people in her community. Yet, as she became older, Felipe De La Cruz understood the advantage a degree would have on her life and her family.

“I was the only one in my friend group to go to college,” she said. “They always said ‘She is the smart one,’ and that confidence made me think I could do it”

Felipe De La Cruz was drawn to ���ϲ����� because of the study abroad opportunities, Odyssey Program and the accelerated 3+1 dual degree business program, allowing her to graduate with her bachelor’s and master’s degrees. Coming to ���ϲ�����, she initially struggled to find her place as an indigenous Mexican woman, but she quickly joined organizations like the Latinx-Hispanic Union and El Centro.

“I was able to find the individuals that make me feel more included,” she said.

For Felipe De La Cruz, being a first-generation student means having “the opportunity to change the trajectory of our family’s generations.”

“You have that power to change how your siblings or your cousins see college,” she said. Her younger siblings, ages 6 and 8, call her Ni and express to their friends and teachers about “going to college like Ni does.” Felipe De La Cruz remembers the pressure to succeed and help out her community because of her responsibility as the first person in her family to attend college.

“Everyone was betting on me to help out my family after college,” she said “However, I see it now as a privilege to go abroad, and there are so many opportunities there for me”

Networking is Power

Felipe De La Cruz enrolled at ���ϲ����� as an accounting major, however, during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, she became interested in finance because she wanted to understand “where the money goes and where it comes from” and because of the financial benefits of a career in finance. She always wanted to help her parents financially. Then, she noticed the opportunities in tech, computer science, programming and cybersecurity and decided to major in computer science.

“In a low-income community, all they do is work and work, and they forget about themselves and experiencing the world,” Anahy said about her parents.

Felipe De La Cruz wanted to change her parents’ future and challenge herself as she did not have a background in tech before becoming a computer science major. During her second year, Felipe de la Cruz struggled to find tech internships until an ���ϲ����� alum connected her to the non-profit organization “Latinas in Tech” in New York City. The organization’s mission is “to create a tech industry where Latinas are well-represented throughout all levels of the ecosystem by empowering them to be innovators and leaders.”

“Networking is power. It’s not only about what you know but who you know,” Felipe De La Cruz said.

“You have that power to change how your siblings or your cousins see college”

Anahy Felipe De La Cruz ’26

Felipe De La Cruz shared “Latinas in Tech” with other first-generation Latin students at ���ϲ����� who were also struggling to find their place in the tech industry. Through being a mentor in the First Phoenix Peer Mentoring program, Felipe De La Cruz is also able to assist in events focused on fostering spaces for first-generation students, offering guidance in academics and professional and personal challenges. The Latinas in Tech experience, though important to her career growth, also highlighted one of Anahy’s struggles of being first generation.

“The big thing is not knowing who to talk to. In New York, I could not call my parents to help find an internship because the only people they know are within our local community,” she said.

She saw her internship experience as a barrier but also as motivation for growth because it forced her to advocate for herself. Felipe De La Cruz appreciates ���ϲ�����’s assistance through counseling services, the Odyssey Program mentors, and First Generation Student Support Services.

Felipe De La Cruz continues her acts of service as an Eco-Representative – a peer educator with ���ϲ����� Sustainability dedicated to furthering sustainability by promoting ways for students to adopt more environmentally and socially responsible behaviors. Her passion for sustainability comes from living in a low-income community that is often impacted by climate change. She also credits an early interest in the environment and sustainability to her parents using natural health remedies.

Feeling like “enough”

Felipe de la Cruz also recounts struggling with “imposter syndrome” – juggling feeling confident and yet feeling as if she does not know “enough.”

“In the classroom, being the only person of color, being the only woman, or being the only Latina, it feels like you have to be the representation and voice of our community,” she said. Felipe De La Cruz says this is a common pressure for first generation students and minority students to be the best to prove to everyone else that they deserve to be in the class and the school.

“What I do to overcome imposter syndrome is, before presentations and meetings, I look at how far I have come, listen to podcasts, music and just talk to myself positively. Knowing that you are worth being there. There are days I feel more like an imposter, and other days I feel less,” Felipe De La Cruz said.

Her goal after graduating is to be employed by a tech company as a cybersecurity analyst or technology consultant outside of the United States, which allows her to move between their international offices. First generation students, she says, have the power to change their lives and the trajectory of their ancestors. She advises incoming and current first-generation students to network and, although academics are important, to enjoy university as an exciting experience.

“Being first gen, we always care about your family, but it is also about you,” she said. “Be able to explore another interest and grow personally. Don’t be scared because if you don’t do it, someone else will.”

The 2024 First Generation Celebration concludes on Nov. 8, National First-Generation College Student Celebration Day, which honors the anniversary of the signing of the Higher Education Act of 1965 that expanded access to higher education for young people from historically marginalized backgrounds.

“I have known Anahy since I started at ���ϲ�����, and she has been a joy to work with and get to know,” said Kenneth Brown, assistant director of First Generation Student Support Services. “One thing I admire about her is her persistence. It’s part of her work ethic. She is always forming new connections and staying abreast of opportunities related to her major. She is a strong advocate not only for herself but also in her leadership as president of the Latinx-Hispanic Union. She wants to build a cohesive and welcoming community, and it has been a joy to watch her navigate the highs and lows of her leadership experience as she persists to this goal.”

Visit a full list of First-Generation Celebration events for more details.